The first building block of effective collaboration begins with communication and requires participation from everyone to be successful. Groups with good communication set expectations from the start, express opinions and ideas, and value diversity of thought.
Explore these topics to learn more about successful communication.
Listening
Listening is key when working within a group and there are several skills which are important when communicating within any group, including paying attention, not interrupting, and responding when appropriate.
Learn more about listening through this video.
Emotional Intelligence
Understanding emotional intelligence - or how well we relate to others - is vital when working as a team. Another way to view emotional intelligence is interpersonal awareness: the ability to recognize your own emotions as well as those within your group.
The ability to be self-aware while using empathy and social skills benefits all. While we may have already identified our strengths, our areas needing improvement are not always as apparent.
Explore these resources on emotional intelligence.
Communicating at a Distance
Working from home or in a remote / virtual team often requires a different way of communicating. The use of e-mail, text, and collaboration tools such as Blackboard Collaboration, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Skype are relied on more heavily.
For most of us, communicating at a distance is part of daily life; however, remotely communicating with a group (versus individuals) has its own unique set of challenges.
Explore these resources on communicating at a distance.
